For those new to the discussion about “climate change”, “net zero” is a term that is used in the environmental lexicon. World leaders who met at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26 (Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC), shared their commitments and commitment to Net Zero and Global Net Zero.
However, the two do not mean the same thing. Climate activists have called for “net zero emissions” by 2030 or 2050. But many developing countries like China and India have pushed the country’s pledges through 2060 and 2070, respectively.
Let’s explain why. First, by breaking down the concepts.
What is net zero?
Net zero emissions refer to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount that is removed from the atmosphere. We reach zero net if the amount we add is not more than the amount taken away.
Today, every country has the responsibility to reduce / remove all man-made greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere through reduction measures and thus to reduce the earth’s net carbon footprint to zero. Mining can be done by creating natural and man-made carbon sinks to become carbon neutral and stabilize global temperature.
What are “negative emissions”?
Corresponding MyClimate.org In order to achieve “zero net emissions” and limit global warming to 1.5 ° C, it is necessary to remove CO from the atmosphere and store it permanently. This is known as carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Since it is the opposite of emissions, these practices or technologies are often described as “negative emissions” or “sinks”.
There is a direct relationship between zero net emissions and CDR. The earlier zero net emissions are achieved, the less CDR is necessary. Therefore, the forecast amount of CDR required in the 21st century varies between 100 and 1,000 Gt CO.
CDR can be divided into three main groups: biological, technological and geochemical processes.
The biological CDR extends natural sinks and comprises several measures. Examples are:
Afforestation, ie large-scale planting of trees, and sustainable forest management that stores carbon in soils and biomass.
Adapted land management to increase and permanent fixation of C from atmospheric CO2 in the soil. One example is the incorporation of crop residues, reduced tillage or even the renaturation of moors.
Pyrolysis of biomass into charcoal (biochar), which keeps carbon in the soil for many years.
Examples of technological CDR are:
Remove CO2 directly from the exhaust gases of industrial processes and store it elsewhere, e.g. underground (Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage, “DACCS”).
Bioenergy use in combination with CO2 capture and storage means the burning of biomass in power plants, whereby the CO2 is immediately captured underground (Bio-Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage, “BECCS”). This process combines biological and technological CDR.
Geochemical CDR includes measures such as:
Improved weathering
Increase in ocean productivity
Developed vs. Developing Countries:
While China is the largest polluter by current standards, followed by the US, these data do not provide historical analysis of which country emitted how much and what cumulative responsibility each country has.
Developed nations, leaders in manufacturing and industry, contributed more to global pollution than developing countries. Hence the concept of ‘Global Net Zero’ was born.
What is Global Net Zero?
This year the concept of “global net zero” was introduced. India has taken the lead on this concept and it was shown in the results of the Quad Meeting held in Washington DC in September between India, the US, Japan and Australia.
It is a concept whereby developed countries that have gained much more in the past and are therefore in the “developed” category should shoulder the burden of emissions reduction more than “developing countries” in order for the latter group of nations to develop as well.
For example if the sum global CO2 emissions is allowed 10 for any country until 2030 or 2050, but developing countries like India and China must continue to emit 12 and 13 to achieve developed status then those with a historical advantage should wear the additional 5 by adding it they give each other and negatively on their CO2 emissions.
So far there has been no consensus on “net zero”. Achieving a “global net zero” and asking developed nations to make sacrifices is a fairly far-fetched goal.
IPCC report
The IPCC demonstrates in his latest report from 2018 that net emissions must be reduced to zero in order to stabilize global temperatures.
The report also notes that any scenario that does not include a zero reduction will not stop climate change. This goal was ratified by Switzerland, the EU and many other countries under the Paris Agreement.
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